Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

Even with the out of market league packages? Then what's the point of having them?

I think you aren't understanding how this whole thing works.

The leagues dictate the team territories as Out of market and In Market.

Those are fairly easy to understand. If you are in an out of market area, you need an out of market sports package to get those games.

The complexities come in the In Market areas as those are dictated by the teams \ networks that own the rights. There are different grades of in market. Think of it like a bullseye in a target. The further you get away from the bullseye in the outer rings, they are still part of the in market territory but companies like DTV have to pay high rates to allow access to those channels.

So let's use the Coyotes as an example. In the state of Arizona, or at least within a certain distance of Phoenix DTV and other carriers would pay a certain fee to carry those games. As they get further away, the fee changes but is still considered In Market. If DTV, or DISH or anyone else deems a zip code 500 miles away from the Coyotes bullseye is not worth paying for, there is nothing the customer can do about it. They are caught in the twilight zone at that point.

Why would DTV or DISH or anyone else do this? Cost. Plain and simple. Think about it this way, there are probably very few fans in New Mexico of the Coyotes but because the RSNs will not allow a la carte distribution of their game, DTV has to pay the RSN as if 100% (or close to it) of their customers in that zip code 500 miles away is a fan and pay the RSN accordingly. Now, if we're talking 50 miles away from Phoenix, that's probably a decision DTV can't afford to make. 500 miles away? Simple. They'll save a lot of money and anger very few customers in the process. With the cost of RSNs now (in this case since FOX owns that channel I'm betting this is a result of the new FOX deal with DTV),, they're probably picking some zip codes that they have not very many customers and are a considerable distance from that team to save a ton of money. It's strictly a business decision and a smart one. They'll lose some customers over it, but they will lose FAR FAR less in terms of $$ than they would have to pay FOX to keep the games on in those zip codes.

It's a no brainer for them. The game has changed, the cost of sports programming makes these decisions easier than ever. Someone here said they were in Kentucky and got a similar letter about the Nashville Predators or something. Again, 100's of miles away in a zip code that they would be forced to pay the RSN IN MARKET rates. No brainer.

How does DTV determine your local RSN? I mentioned earlier that I live in far western Kentucky, but my RSN is FS Cincinnati. I live over 300 miles from Cincinnati. I'm not sure, but I think that all of Kentucky gets FS Cincinnati.

When it comes to baseball the western part of the state is mostly St. Louis Cardinals fans, and I would much rather get FS Midwest as my local RSN. Right now I'm still able to watch the Cardinals with the Sports Pack, but I'm afraid that might change next year.

How does DTV determine your local RSN? I mentioned earlier that I live in far western Kentucky, but my RSN is FS Cincinnati. I live over 300 miles from Cincinnati. I'm not sure, but I think that all of Kentucky gets FS Cincinnati.

When it comes to baseball the western part of the state is mostly St. Louis Cardinals fans, and I would much rather get FS Midwest as my local RSN. Right now I'm still able to watch the Cardinals with the Sports Pack, but I'm afraid that might change next year.

I'm still able to watch the Cardinals with the Sports Pack, but I'm afraid that might change next year.

You might want to be worried with how cheap Directv is getting with their RSN contracts. You may be blacked out of every Cardinals game broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest next year regardless if you have Sports Pack and/or Extra Innings just like with what's happening with the OP.

It a league considers you to be in-market, then all providers in that market should carry the team's RSN to all in-market zip codes. If out of market, open up all out of market feeds via NHL CI, MLB EI, etc. to all other zip codes. Doesn't sound that complicated. That is fan friendly and make sure that all fans who want to see a particular team's games can do so.. either locally, or by paying for the NHL CI, MLB EI, etc. packages.